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About this blog: About this blog: I am a LMFT specializing in couples counseling and grief and have lived in Silicon Valley since 1969. I'm the president of Connect2 Marriage Counseling. I worked in high-tech at Apple, Stanford University, and in ... (More)

About this blog: About this blog: I am a LMFT specializing in couples counseling and grief and have lived in Silicon Valley since 1969. I'm the president of Connect2 Marriage Counseling. I worked in high-tech at Apple, Stanford University, and in Silicon Valley for 15 years before becoming a therapist. My background in high-tech is helpful in understanding local couples' dynamics and the pressures of living here. I am a wife, mom, sister, friend, author, and lifelong advocate for causes I believe in (such as marriage equality). My parents are both deceased. My son graduated culinary school and is heading toward a degree in Sociology. I enjoy reading, hiking, water fitness, movies, 49ers and Stanford football, Giants baseball, and riding a tandem bike with my husband. I love the beach and mountains; nature is my place of restoration. In my work with couples, and in this blog, I combine knowledge from many fields to bring you my best ideas, tips, tools and skills, plus book and movie reviews, and musings to help you be your genuine self, find your own voice, and have a happy and healthy relationship. Don't be surprised to hear about brain research and business skills, self-soothing techniques from all walks of life, suggestions and experiments, and anything that lights my passion for couples. (Author and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Calif. Lic # MFC 45204.) (Hide)

Been Hacked? "Married People Seeking Affairs" Website Has Been

Uploaded: Aug 20, 2015

In a story revealed by Wired, hackers accessed the files of about 32 million users of the site AshleyMadison.com. According to Ashley Madison, their website "is the most famous name in infidelity and married dating, with the tagline "Life is short, have an affair."

Wired reports that, "The files appear to include account details and log-ins for some 32 million users of the social networking site . . . including names, street address, email address and amount paid, but not credit card numbers."

As the hackers promised they would, they released about 10 gigabytes of data on Tuesday. Wired reported that another 20 gigabytes of compressed files has been released today.

"Revealing the Secret: Truth and Consequences" is the epilogue of "After the Affair" by Janis Abrahams Spring, Ph.D. This brief section is written for the unfaithful partner to decide whether or not to reveal the secret of the affair. It can also be a good idea to see an individual therapist to talk things through with and get clear about what you choose to do.

Affairs are often the impetus for couples to seek counseling. Many couples recover from an affair, especially when handled well. Other couples do not survive the aftermath.

Whether or not you were hacked this week, an affair is probably best dealt with sooner than later.

Posted by Curmudgeon,
a resident of Downtown North,
on Aug 22, 2015 at 3:59 pmCurmudgeon is a registered user.

For the most likely expkanation, follow the money trail. Therefore this hack was prompted and financed by a federation of marriage counselors, perhaps in connivance with an association of divorce attorneys.

Other options:

Religious/moralist fanatics. Psychos with unusual moxie, and lots of time on their hands.

Revenge on a targeted individual, with everyone else tossed in as a screen. Pretty slick.

Posted by Chandrama Anderson,
a DanvilleSanRamon.com blogger,
on Aug 23, 2015 at 1:25 pmChandrama Anderson is a registered user.

Ha! Good one! Have you ever talked to a therapist about technology? Although one of my Connect2 Marriage Counseling therapists, Howard Scott Warshaw, holds degrees in Counseling Psychology, Computer Engineering, Economics, and Mathematics. Howard?s work has been inducted to The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA NY). An Xbox documentary called, "Atari: Game Over #1" and "#2" covers Howard?s work as a game designer in the 1980s, and he is the ?Urban Legend? of the game "ET." Howard, of course, is the exception to the rule of therapists and technology, and he definitely did not hack the Ashley Madison website.

Posted by Curmudgeon,
a resident of Downtown North,
on Aug 23, 2015 at 5:16 pmCurmudgeon is a registered user.

"Ha! Good one! Have you ever talked to a therapist about technology?"

Never occurred to me, My conversations with a therapist focus on what therapists traditionally do. My discussions about technology tend to be with professional technologists.

Another possibility. AshleyMadison.com was created by a collective of divorce attorneys to churn up a batch of new business. No actual hack necessary in that case, only the easily staged appearance of a hack.